Adolescent Substance Abuse

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Transcript of Adolescent Substance Abuse

Essential Questions How do drugs effect the adolescent mind and learning capabilities?What can I do to stop the rise is teenage drug use?How can our society help halt the rise in teenage drug use?What precautions can families take towards preventing teen substance abuse? 72% of teens have consumed alcohol by the end of high school37% of adolescents have done so by 8th grade Alcohol Marijuana 1.2% of 8th graders 3.3% of 10th graders 6.2% of 12th graders use marijuana daily (20+ occassions within 30 days) Ecstasy According to 2010's PATS data, there has been a 67% increase in the number of teens who reported using Ecstasy.10% of teens have attended "raves" where Ecstasy was available In the past year, there has been a 22% increase in teens using marijuana Cigarettes 44% of American teens have tried cigarettes by 12th grade1 out of 5 (20%) twelfth graders is a current smoker Alcohol Oldest known abused substanceThe cultivation of wine dates back from 6000 to 4000 B.C.Wine became an important item of Mediterranean trade and commerceOther parts of the world used a process of distillation to create beer and other forms of alcoholThroughout history, alcohol has been used in times of celebration and that trend still continues today Marijuana First documented use of cannabis was in 3727 B.C. in ChinaUsed to treat malaria, gout, and rheumatismThe use of marijuana for recreation started in India and Muslim countries around the 12th centuryIt soon became an important item of tradeIn the 1990's, marijuana was found medically beneficial in treating various diseases (cancer, hepatitis, glaucoma, etc.) Psilocybin Mushroom Prehistoric rock art in the Sahara Desert was discovered to represent early use of hallucinogenic mushrooms that dates back over 9000 years agoImages represented the harvest, worship, and offerings of mushrooms to GodsAlso used to gain religious insights, dull pain during ritual mutilation, or to enhance the strength and pain resistance of warriors during battle Opposing Argument It should be the individual's choiceAlcohol and cigarettes have harmful effects yet they are legal Cigarettes Contains more than 7,000 chemicals in tobaccoo smoke (including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammoniaLeading cause of cancer and death from cancerIt causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervixSmoking also causes heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm, etc. Alcohol Alcoholism is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United StatesEvery year 14,406 people die from alcoholic liver diseaseEvery year 150,000+ college students develop alcohol related health problemsEvery year 1,400 college students die from alcohol related injuries or vehicle accidents My Argument Physical Effects Obession over the drugUnable to fuction normally without the drugIncreased toleranceNeglecting responsibilitiesAbandoned normal activitiesChange in appearance Psychological Effects Adolescence is a transition stage when the body undergoes significant hormonal and brain development changesAdolescents can develop a dependency quicker than adults because they do not have the internal structure to delay the onset of chemical dependencyThe synthetic chemicals in the drug damages the process of development and alters the natural chemical balances in the brainUnexplained change in personality or attitudeSudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outburstsLack of motivationFearful or anxious for no reason Why? CuriosityFeelings of inadequacyLack of self-esteem or confidencePeer pressurePoor family life Solution Parents need to play an active role in their child's life Establish a system of open communication between parents and their child Regularly converse with their child and educate them about the harmful risks of using drugs Parents should be well educated about the warning signs of drug use Drop in attendance and performance at schoolUnexplained need for money (may steal to get it)Secretive or suspicious behaviorsSudden change in friends, hangouts, or hobbiesFrequently getting into troubleUnusual smells on breath, body, or clothing Parents should know what their child is doing and who they are with at all times Pare Parents should raise their child to be secure and self-aware Drug Abuse in Adolescence Substance Abuse Statistics History The End